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News & Media

Johnson Park Center in Utica holds 2012 Youth Olympics

Monday, August 6th, 2012

By GARY LIBERATORE

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Some kids in the City of Utica took part in their own 2012 Olympic games on Monday as the Johnson Park Center held their Youth Olympics in Cornhill.

Kids played a variety of sports, not just because they can win trophies or medals, but just for the fun of the games.

Johnson Park Center Founder Reverend Maria Scates says this is a yearly event, but it's only part of a week-long celebration that goes back 17 years.

"It was the children," Reverend Scares said. "As we celebrate 17 years in the neighborhood, they started following to me, as I was picking up the trash, they say 'why are you doing that? Nobody does that.' "I said, 'we are responsible for where we live, it's not the city's job it's our job,' and it started from there."

The Youth Olympics continued until 7 p.m. on Monday and there was also a variety of other events planned for the kids all week at the Johnson Park Center.